Bogenpohl tabbed D1Baseball’s top preseason Missouri Valley Conference freshman

There are few ways to kick off your college career better than being named the top freshman in your conference preseason, and Caden Bogenpohl earned that title on Sunday morning.

The Missouri State Bears Baseball account announced on social media that the 2023 Jackson graduate had received the honor from D1Baseball.com in its Missouri Valley Conference preview.

Tabbed as one of three award recipients, Bogenpohl stands alongside Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Player of the Year Zack Stewart and Pitcher of the Year Brandt Thompson as Bears to receive preseason honors.

Already set to don the No. 16 as he did in high school for the Bears, Bogenpohl enters the season with high expectations from the conference brass.

He’s listed on the university’s roster as an outfielder and right-handed pitcher, giving light to the belief that he’ll continue his two-way prowess among the college ranks.

The standout Jackson star wrapped up his prep career by winning the honor of the 2023 Semoball Baseball Athlete of the Year Award.

As a high school senior, Bogenpohl proved to be one of the state’s top players with his uncanny ability to mash home runs as well as his top-speed fastball.

That combination earned him his third All-State nomination of his career, going down as a First Team All-State utility player with his versatile playing style.

Clocking in at 95 mph and sitting around 92-to-93 mph, Bogenpohl emerged as one of the top arms in the state and could prove a mighty presence immediately for Missouri State.

In that senior season, he helped Jackson High School to its first-ever state semifinal berth after hitting four home runs in district play and knocking off Lafayette in the quarterfinals at home.

In that district, Bogenpohl had an unbelievable 18-strikeout, no-hit performance while clubbing two home runs in a district semifinal against Oakville to advance the Indians to the district championship game.

Entering the quarterfinal as the starting pitcher, Bogenpohl held the Lancers to just one run and handed the ball off to John-Paul Sauer to close the game out and advance Jackson to its first state final four.

Despite losing to Francis Howell in the semifinals, Jackson left Ozark, Missouri, with a third-place trophy and the highest end-of-season finish in program history after defeating Nixa in the third-place game.

Following the conclusion of his career with the Indians, Bogenpohl joined the Cape Catfish and made an immediate impact.

Bogenpohl's bat was one of the loudest on the team, and he became a standout reliever for the Catfish as he continued his two-way domination into the prospect league just days removed from the high school ranks.

Prep Baseball Report noted Bogenpohl as its most-viewed Missouri high school baseball player profile in May 2023, it sealed the impressive get for Missouri State.

Having announced his commitment to the Bears on Oct. 12, 2021, early in his junior year of high school, Bogenpohl racked up attention with his exciting skillset and continued to gain notoriety.

Missouri State has appeared in the NCAA Tournament four times in the past decade and even made a College World Series appearance as recently as 2003.

The 2024 baseball season kicks off for Missouri State on the road, beginning a three-game series at Louisiana-Monroe on Friday, Feb. 16 in Monroe, Louisiana, expected to be available to all ESPN+ subscribers.

With an opportunity to become an immediate standout with one of the nation’s top mid-major programs, Bogenpohl has high expectations and a chance to make that next step.